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A Sarnia man charged this week with attempted murder has committed suicide while in custody at the Sarnia Jail.

Sources told The Observer that Daniel Mitchell, 30, hung himself himself on Thursday.

“I can confirm that an inmate died at the Sarnia Jail (Thursday) evening,” said Brent Ross, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

“Given the matter is under investigation by the police, the coroner and the ministry, it would be inappropriate to provide further detail at this time.”

If the death is found to be not of natural causes, a coroner’s inquest is mandatory, he added.

Dr. Rick Mann with the Ontario West Region Coroner’s Office confirmed that a coroner’s inquest is underway.

The Special Investigations Unit — an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault — is not involved in the investigation.

“While the man was in the Sarnia jail, he was not under the authority of police,” said SIU spokesperson Monica Hudon. “For that reason, the SIU did not invoke its mandate in this case.”

Sarnia Police Const. Heather Emmons said police are not commenting on the incident.

Mitchell was one of two people arrested this week on a charge of attempted murder after a 40-year-old Sarnia man was handcuffed and brutally beaten by a man and woman at a Maxwell Street home.

The incident that led to the arrests occurred overnight April 12 to 13 when the victim showed up at the home in the 800 block of Maxwell street, was handcuffed and beaten, suffering severe injuries to his head and torso.

The victim was eventually able to flee the residence, with assistance from an acquaintance, police said, and was taken to hospital.

On Tuesday, police arrested Mitchell and 44-year-old Mary Muscat after issuing a search warrant at the Maxwell St. home.

Police seized a large quantity of drugs at the Maxwell Street home and issued a second search warrant at an Errol Road home.

Both homes were the residences of the accused.

Muscat made a brief court appearance Friday morning and has been remanded into custody until her next appearance on April 29.